MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETINGOF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILAPRIL 8, 2003 – 6:00 P.M.Mayor Jim Jellema called the meeting to order with the following Council members present: Jim Jellema, Linus Svoboda, Dana Dahlquist, Keith Elbers and Arlen Leenderts. Employee present: Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk, Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer and Wayne Ward, City Maintenance. Guests present: Beaver Creek Sportsmen-Roger Jackson, Ed Gehrke, LeRoy Van Wyhe and Aaron Erickson. Martin Township-Gawaine Diekevers, Alan Nuffer and Dave Swanson. Hills Fire Department-Doug Chapman, Tim Durst, Allan Top, Jeff Bass, Larry Haak, Jaren Rozeboom, Pete Hoff, Stan Van Wyhe, Mark Raymon, Tom Bush, Derek Bundesen and Mark Top. Hills Crescent-Jolene Farley.Motion by Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to approve of the March 10th minutes. Motion carried. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Dahlquist to approve payment of the March expenditures: General $3,059.39; Park $1,276.29; Fire $9,380.30; Street $2,327.12; Legion $717.73; Barbershop $191.13; Sewer $972.32; Garbage $889.71; Recycling $30.05; Water $4,003.66; Baseball $7.02; Softball $18.44. Motion carried.TREASURER’S REPORT:General Checking 45,352.86General Fund CD#16666, 5.420%, 4/22/03 182,370.17General Fund CD#17434, 2.65%, 4/17/03 95,332.04General Fund CD#17435, 2.65%, 4/19/03 18,389.35Sewer Fund CD#17433, 2.65%, 4/10/03 69,397.73General Fund CD#17792, 2.5%, 5/29/03 133,372.00General Fund CD#17760, 2.5%, 3/15/05 20,226.85Fire Truck Rep. Fund CD #17710, 1.75%, 1/13/04 19,878.80Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 2,971.96Hills EDA Checking 4,062.28Southern Hills Apts. Checking 5,032.80Southern Hills CD#17554, 2.5%, 7/20/03 17,534.93Southern Hills CD#17759, 2.5%, 3/15/05 5,056.71EDA CD#17384, 2.65%, 4/7/03 27,257.10EDA CD#17268, 1.75%, 1/26/04 10,454.41TOTAL $656,689.99Motion by Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to combine and renew general fund CD’s #16666, #17434, and #17435, less $340.96 as reimbursement to the sewer fund. Renew the CD at the best interest rate, up to 25 months. Motion carried. A list of delinquent utility accounts was presented to the Council. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to approve of the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried.Spring junk pick-up is scheduled for May 17th. The junk appliance fee is $15. Publish the ad in the Focus. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Svoboda to proceed with work to repair water drainage along 2nd Street, from the corner of Main Avenue to Church Avenue. Ward requested permission to clean sewer lines east of Main for 35 cents per foot ($2,000-$3,000); to televise lines is an additional 65 cents per foot. The Council denied the request due to proposed state aid cuts. Ward inquired about hiring a student for summer help. The Council didn’t feel there was a need for additional help. The Council discussed the following issues regarding the American Legion building: (1) To replace the broken window in the maintenance room; (2) To obtain estimates from local contractors to replace the Post Office door with a wider commercial grade door, downsize and replace the window, and relocate the air conditioner: (3) Obtain a price for 2 tables and 50 chairs; (4) Hire Terry Sandstede to seal the wood floor for $300.The Clerk was instructed to contact the U.S. Postal Service to demand a decision within 30 days regarding the relocation of the Hills Post Office. The Council may consider advertising the office space. The Council approved to proceed with the disc golf plans at Rez Park.The Council refused the internet directory service from Tollefson Publishing. Rock County Rural Water will be asked to mail Pipeliner brochures to all city residents. The Council reviewed a draft of an advertisement for sealed bids for the sale of the depot building. The ad will run for one week in the Hills Crescent. Bids will be opened on May 13th at 7:00 P.M. The City has the right to refuse any and all bids. The city’s Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting will be held on May 13th from 6:00-7:00 P.M.Employees from Novartis Animal Research are making plans to volunteer to clean-up city parks. The Council discussed having outside water meters installed. Cost estimates will be obtained. Svoboda reported that a certain property owner informed him of their plans to remove junk cars, and everything on the outside of the fence will be cleaned up, and the fence will be repaired. Also, regarding the second property in question, Svoboda reported that this property is taxed as commercial. The City Council meeting was recessed at 7:35 P.M. and reopened at 7:55 P.M. in order to open the EDA meeting while waiting for additional guests to arrive. Members from Martin Township and Hills Fire Department appeared at the meeting to discuss the Fire Department’s 2004 proposed budget of $31,425. Building and maintenance expenses were increased by $5,000 for roof replacement costs; $700 was added for tuition and mileage due to more training classes (140 hours per year) are required for first responders; $700 was also added toward truck replacement investments; and $2,000 was added to the Fire Relief Association for retirement funding.Fire protection for Clinton Township was also discussed. Members of the Fire Department are not in favor of covering all of Clinton due to response time and the need for a larger water truck to go that distance. For these reasons it would not be a cost savings to Clinton Township. The Firemen also discourage selling 1/3 of the Fire Department to Clinton Township in order to eliminate working with three boards. Roger Jackson, Ed Gehrke, LeRoy Van Wyhe and Aaron Erickson appeared at the meeting to inform the Council of their plans to use barley straw packed in onion sacks to control algae, rather than using chemicals, at Rez Park. The Beaver Creek Sportsmen are also working on the rock filter dam on the north end; and plan to hold their MinnAqua Program on June 14th (Friendship Day) from 10 A.M.-Noon.Motion by Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to adjourn at 8:50 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(4-24)
